Fears all-day raves at Pablo Escobar’s former aircraft will turn into ‘drug-fuelled nightmare’

Plans for large raves around Pablo Escobar’s former plane have been blasted by neighbours who fear it will become a “drug-fuelled nightmare”.

Businessman Johnny Palmer, 42, has been given the green light by licencing chiefs at Bristol council to stage four all-day ‘raves’ on an industrial estate where he rents out the fuselage of the drug lord’s old Boeing 727 as an Airbnb.

He claims the clientele of such events has changed and argued it would be more of a ‘hipster’ event as young people don’t get “as mangled” as they used to anymore. But locals say it already hosts noisy parties “Escobar himself would be proud of.”

And they fear a potential influx of booze and drug-fuelled revellers that could be attracted by the links to the infamous Colombian drugs baron.

Bristol City Council granted permission for four giant raves a year next to the Airbnb plane on Skyline Park with a capacity of 1,500 people including staff.

Parties have already been put on there using temporary event notices but the new premises licence allows four large events a year, planned for Saturdays and running 1pm to 10pm with the first party planned for August.

Mr Palmer defended the change and claims local residents fears were unfounded, saying: “The clubbing world has become so good in the last 10 years. It used to be a very narrow demographic, with lots of drink and drugs.

“It’s amazing going now, the range of age groups, 18-year-olds up to 50-year-olds having a great time together, much more conscious, much more responsible. People aren’t getting as mangled as they used to get.”

He told councillors he wanted to make Skyline Park a “bit more buzzing, more cool and more hipster.” But neighbours have this week lashed out at the council’s decision.

Deborah Hurst, who lives close to the site, said: “Raves should take place where there’s no population nearby. People need to enjoy themselves and have fun but not 200 yards from houses, it’s thoughtless insanity. It’s ridiculous.

“In the past raving used to be drug and alcohol fuelled, I do not know the current ethos for raves but it’s highly unlikely that there’s going to be no alcohol and I do not know what provisions he’s going to have to search for drugs.

“And the last thing we want around here is an insurgence of drug and alcohol fuelled ravers. People live here. When they had parties last year, it was horrendous, and it went on for hours, so this is totally and utterly thoughtless.”

John White, who lives right next to the site, added: “After nine hours of drinking you can understand what sort of noise and disturbance we get. Especially in the back garden, there are a lot of young families around here.

“I just cannot understand why he wants to have it on an industrial estate, there’s nowhere for people to go before and after. Obviously we’re worried about drugs and alcoholic activity. I am surprised the council allowed it, they know it’s a residential area.

“I’d like the councillors to come out during a rave and listen, and see how many people actually leave after 10. All we’re going to get from this is a lot of noise and an awful lot of people. We’re worried every time there’s an event, we cannot enjoy our own garden.”

Another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, added: “It’s not going to be nice with all the noise for all the young children sleeping. The Pablo Escobar link is probably not going to be attracting the best of people.

“People who want to take drugs. It will probably be a party that Escobar would be proud of but it’s not suitable around here.”

Mr Palmer said punters leaving the venue will be directed towards taxi pick-up points and a welfare team will be on hand to keep vulnerable people safe from harm.

Music will be put on by an array of younger promoters and running the events behind the scenes will be Victoria Holden, from Alfresco Disco, and James Burrows, the director of the highly-regarded Airsec security firm.

The licence is limited for a year, after which the team will assess the impact of the venue and any problems, before potentially applying for a permanent licence.

There will be two bars, one inside and one outside, and an outdoor stage. The licence also allows an indoor monthly event, but with a tiny capacity of just 25 people.

Councillors on the licensing hearing stressed they could not take into account personal concerns about Mr Palmer, but instead must focus on the premises licence itself

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